What is Piezoelectricity?

Piezoelectricity, or the piezoelectric effect, is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials in response to applied mechanical stress. This effect could also be reversed in that the material will produce an electric charge if mechanical stress is applied to it. The term for piezoelectricity comes from the Greek word “piezo” which means to squeeze or press.

Piezoelectric materials can be grouped into two categories: ceramics and crystals. Natural piezoelectric materials include quartz, cane sugar, Rochelle salt, etc. Man-made piezoelectric materials include lead zirconate titanate, barium titante, lithium niobite, etc.

The need for piezoelectric materials is on a constant up rise, resulting in an increase in demand for piezoelectric companies. Government, large corporations, and entrepreneurs are continuously innovating and exploring the capabilities of piezoelectric ceramics across every industry. 

Applications of Piezoelectric Ceramics

The applications of piezoelectric ceramics are endless. As our knowledge of piezoelectricity grows, this piezoelectric material will be used in more and more products. For example, piezoelectric materials are now being researched for energy harvesting purposes. In Tokyo, several train stations use piezoelectric energy to generate the power needed to run the ticket machines and electronic displays. California has funded two piezoelectric projects last year to test the efficiency of energy harvesting. The first project will be to build a 60-meter stretch of roadway near UC Merced and the 2^nd project will use similar piezoelectric devices to generate power. California state officials say if the experiments works well, they will expand this project to other roads in the state.